Author's Notes: I read part of this to my sister, I found it a bit funny.
Chapter 51 : Within the Eyes of the Dragon
Yui slowly brought more of the rice up to her mouth, staring off into space as she ate it. The force field around her had expanded enough so at least now she had enough room to pace. There was nearly nothing to do, and the dizzy spells and sudden attacks of pain grew more frequent. It seemed the powers of Seiryu really had been stored within her, and she was losing them more and more with every passing day. The only people she'd seen in the tent were Nakago and Mayo. She hadn't even heard Amiboshi... she wished desperately to see even him, unless he felt the same. Perhaps he wasn't even around. She never really met Amiboshi, but maybe seeing his face could give her some relief, like seeing Suboshi always had.
Another subject came up in her mind. She could have sworn she heard a vastly familiar voice, right around the time the explosion had happened by her tent. Who could it have been?
Yui sighed, dropping the chopsticks and hugging her knees to her chest. What she wouldn't do just to see Miaka. Her friend, Keisuke, her mother... but at that moment, more than anything, she wanted to see Tetsuya again. She wanted to be in his arms, look into his green eyes...
Yui felt a tear roll down her cheek. She placed her head on her knees, and permitted herself to cry.
********************************
Tetsuya looked at the small picture accompanying the page after reading the last written line, the picture of the petite girl curled up near a cot, her arms hiding her face and her hair falling over them. He stroked his thumb over it, sighing. He had been waiting for an update on Yui, and it hadn't been too great.
"You okay man?" Keisuke asked, seeing Tetsuya's stillness.
Tetsuya waved at him. "Yeah, I'm good."
"What's happening? You said they were in Kutou and you didn't care to tell me what else was going on."
"They weren't in Kutou actually, just at the border." Tetsuya rubbed his eyes under his glasses. "After that it switched to them camping, and just now it finished with Yui."
Keisuke looked up from his cereal at the name. "How's she doing?"
"Not so good." Tetsuya answered, standing up and brushing his pants off. "Here." He said, walking over and handing Keisuke the book. "I gotta get an aspirin, my head hurts."
Keisuke stuck the spoon in his mouth and opened the book to where Tetsuya's finger was marking. Shifting the metal utensil around in his mouth, he began to mumble the words. Unlike Tetsuya, he read better out loud.
"Hey!" He mumbled, the spoon clinking against his teeth. "Theyphh in Kubou!"
******************************
"Two guards."
"Wow Tasuki, you can count!"
"Shut up Saori."
"Sorry..."
"Will both of you be quiet? They could hear us!"
Tasuki and Saori both turned around and eyed Nuriko, who grabbed them and pulled them back behind the trees. They were still a good distance from the Kutou gates, but close enough to see what was going on. It was still fairly early in the morning. They had woken up around 5:00 a.m. to get a head start, and it took three more hours before they even came in sight of the gates.
"Chichiri, you can't just take us there?" Miaka asked quietly.
Chichiri shook his head. "It would have to be a few at a time, and remember, we can't raise our chi levels, no da."
"Oh, yeah." Miaka felt a bit silly for forgetting that.
"I've done this before," Tamahome began, "But they won't let you just walk in. They're strict."
"They do allow merchants in," Chiriko spoke up, "Though it would be hard to pass all of us off... and we have no cart or materials..."
"Just 'taking care' of them wouldn't work either." Nuriko thought, peeking back around at the two armed guards. "We'd be caught for sure, and we have to stay out of sight."
"I'm out of ideas too no da." Chichiri kept his voice down. "There's also the chance we could be recognized, no da."
The group was silent for a moment, contemplating a way to get past the gates. They had to find the next clue. They weren't even IN Kutou and they were running into problems.
After a few minutes, Nuriko looked back at the two guards and then at the group with a sassy smirk on his face. "I may have an idea, and I'll bet hands down it would work too."
Everyone looked up. "And what is that?" Inami asked.
Nuriko looked towards Chichiri, who had the more accustomed role as the leader of the group. "Well, take a look at the guards, first off. Only two of them, right?"
"You're point?" Tasuki questioned.
Nuriko readjusted himself on the tree he was leaning against. "I'm just saying with two guys of their obvious stature a little feminine persuasion could come in handy."
"Huh?" Miaka asked.
Tamahome quirked an eyebrow. "Are you saying..."
"Are you kidding?" Inami asked.
Saori was confused too. "Feminine what?"
Chichiri thought. "Actually, that could work no da."
"You want one of us to dress up like a prostitute?!" Tamahome exclaimed.
"Well, it would half to be a girl, but thanks for the offer Tama- kins." Nuriko smiled.
Eyes went to Miaka.
"What?!" Miaka screeched, forgetting to be quiet. Her face went deep crimson. "I... I can't!" She peered out at the guards who were some ways away. A disgusted look came over her face. "I. can't..."
"No way." Tamahome agreed. "I'm not letting HER go out there to. do THAT."
"It's a good point." Chiriko pointed out. "Miaka is the one of us who would most likely be recognized. It'd be too risky."
The eyes moved.
Saori through her hands over herself as if she were naked. "You're kidding me! I... I don't even know... how!" She said, flushing herself.
"No one would recognize ya." Tasuki offered. "Of course," He scanned her quickly. "You don't really look like one."
"Thanks." Saori said sarcastically. "I look too young though! And I... I'd die, I swear!"
A few gazes shifted.
"What makes you think I'm going to do it?" Inami snapped.
Nuriko sighed. "Inami, in case you haven't noticed, you're the last woman among us."
Inami glanced over at Saori. "I think she'll do just fine."
Saori stuck her tongue out.
"Too bad." Nuriko said, standing up. "You're going."
"What?!" Inami asked, unfolding her arms. "I'm not prancing out there dressed up like some street whore!"
"Inami, we NEED the shinzaho!" Miaka said, urgent to get someone else to do the task.
"NO!"
"The reason you're here is to help us!"
"Aw, come on Akue." Tasuki tried to with hold from laughing. "We all know you're the best built for it."
"Excuse me?!" Inami asked. Chiriko subconsciously back away.
"Keep it down no da!" Chichiri hushed.
Inami looked from face to face, rolling her eyes. "Fine!" She said defiantly. "But if this doesn't work, I'm using MY powers to get ME out of here while you guys are all skewered painfully by spears!" Inami stomped forward and peer around the trees at the guards, making a face at their appearance. "This is so humiliating..." She said, starting to loosen the collar of her robe.
"You're actually doin' it?" Tasuki asked.
"No Tasuki, I'd just thought it was getting hot out here and..." Inami didn't even bother to finish her sentence. "I've never felt so low."
"Good Girl." Nuriko patted her on the back.
"You guys..." She said as if it were a curse. She finally untied the top of her robe. She turned away from the others, casually walking away.
Everyone else turned back to the center of the circle. "Let's hope this works, no da." Chichiri stated.
"Let's hope it does." Tamahome whispered.
"But what if it doesn't?" Miaka asked, unsure.
"Then we run for it." Nuriko replied, "Or be skewered, whichever one works."
Saori smiled. Despite the risk they were about to take, she was relieved it wasn't her going out there alone.
"Okay, let's go." Nuriko motioned.
~
Tamahome held Miaka's hand tightly as he stayed close to the opposite wall of the large brick arch, moving swiftly but quietly. He couldn't quite make out what Inami was saying, but he didn't pay much attention to her. He finally reached to end of the gates, pulling Miaka with him sharply as they turned a corner into some brush. Miaka kept herself quiet as they rustled quickly through, some of the twigs scratching across her skin. She put her free hand over her mouth to ensure her silence and closed her eyes, trusting Tamahome to guide her. Finally she felt the brush pull away and she sprinted down a hill, opening her eyes and spotting Chiriko, Nuriko, and Tasuki standing quietly among a grove of trees.
Tamahome and Miaka pulled up next to them, positioning behind another tree. "Good thing these are here." He whispered.
"Remember, don't use your powers." Chiriko poked. "Imagine you're not even a warrior. It's very dangerous."
Tasuki tried to look past the long line of brush that lined the large gate. "How long can she keep it up?"
Miaka looked around. The grove of trees was right in front of the extended length of the large walls. She imagined they extended all the way around the country, kind of like the Great Wall of China.
A slight rustling was heard coming towards them. Miaka's shoulders tensed up, but relaxed when she saw Saori and Mitsukake emerge, running quietly down the small hill to where they were.
"Chichiri is right behind us." Mitsukake alerted as he too camouflaged in the grove.
Nuriko nodded. "He's got that disk, let's hope that we don't all need it... we're going to have to split up again. Kutou's a big country and we don't have a lot of leads."
Saori saw Chichiri coming carefully down the hill, his hand clasped over the top of his staff as to keep the rings from hitting each other. Apparently he overheard.
"I have the feeling our clue is here in Western Kutou, no da. If we move quickly and surely, we should find it before the day is out, no da."
"We need to meet somewhere at dusk." Tamahome piped in.
"How about here?" Miaka asked.
Chichiri shook his head. "It's dangerous for us to be here as it is, no da." His voice was low and quiet. "Too many soldiers, no da."
"Tasuki." Nuriko began. Apparently Tasuki knew what he was going to say, because he waved his hand and quietly slipped through the trees away from the group.
"Where's he going?" Miaka whispered.
"Don't worry, he'll be back." Nuriko patted her head.
~
The group waited in silence for a while, not even Miaka's stomach grumbled. Sure enough, several long minutes later, Tasuki emerged back through the trees, holding onto Inami's hand to guide her through quickly. Inami's other hand was across the top of her robe to hold it shut-- apparently she didn't have time to do it back up.
"Inami!" Saori whispered loudly. "Are you okay?"
"Oh sure." Inami whispered back, getting both hands free. She began quickly tying up her front. "I was just humiliated beyond belief and I'm supposed to meet one of those guys at some inn in half and hour."
"You're not going are you?"
"NO!"
"All right, we're all here." Nuriko took charge. "We need to make the groups small so we'll blend in, and we need to cover ground."
Tama, who had been hiding beneath Mitsukake's top layer, made a small meow.
Nuriko looked around the group. "Having two or more girls together won't work too well here, so Miaka, go with Tamahome and Chiriko." He looked further around. "Tasuki, take Inami, I'll go with Mitsukake, and Chichiri, look after Saori."
Chichiri nodded. "That will work, no da." Chichiri hesitated for a moment, listening to the noises in the background. "Saori and I will take a north route. Tamahome, take Chiriko and Miaka on a south route, along this wall this way, no da." Chichiri pointed. Tamahome would be heading the same way he had been to get to the grove. "Inami, Tasuki, take south east, and Mitsukake, you and Nuriko take north east. We'll cover more ground that way."
The group nodded and agreed. Before separating the group silently forged their way to the front of the grove, which lead out onto a street where a few people and merchants passed by and chatted. After indicating a pawnshop much further up to meet at dusk, the group took off their separate directions, blending in with the town's people of Kutou.
*********************************
Mayo tapped her fingernails harshly on the bench she sat on. She had the curtains to the windows of the carriage shut except for the right one, which was opened just a peek in case she needed to talk to Nakago or something. She would have been alone, but with Suboshi's injuries, he sat in the opposite corner across from her. His head was leaned on his fist and his eyes were closed, but Mayo doubted he was asleep. When they had left the tents had been packed up, and there was no sign of Yui. Mayo knew their work with Yui still wasn't completed, so Nakago couldn't have gotten rid of her.
Mayo looked at Suboshi quietly. He didn't look too bad, but she knew underneath he was bandaged, and the gold band on his left forearm was bound tightly with a thin splint. She had read the book, she knew how he felt towards Yui. She also knew he had no idea Yui was with them, which is probably one reason why not even she could find the blonde. For a dwindling moment Mayo wanted to tell him, but the thought soon faded.
Mayo turned to the embroidered parcel sitting next to her. She quietly picked it up and looked at some of the contents. She pulled out a long, beaded necklace, letting it rest on her fingers for a moment. She remembered, they had gotten this in Hokkan. She hated that forsaken country. How anyone in their right mind could live there was beyond her. As she stared into the beads, she remembered the run in with that girl they had had after attacking the village for this very item. Nakago had let her off easy, though with the apparent trouble Tomo went through to get her, she didn't see why Nakago hadn't killed the "ambassador" then.
She released the necklace and again reached into the wide bag. She pulled out a comb. It was blue with a hint of silver. She shifted the object in her hand, letting the light from the small opening on the window reflect off it at different angles. They had gotten this in Konan, right on the border. Obviously the Suzaku seven were too stupid to know of their presence.
Mayo put the comb back into the parcel and again laid it beside her, letting her mind drift. That magician, Chichiri, had taken Saori away from her. She remembered only about a year ago that all the Suzaku seven had been around her when she had gone into the book as the second priestess of Suzaku. That hadn't worked out like it had this time. She wasn't happy at all. Mayo was sure the only reason they helped her in the end was for Hikari. She frowned.
Nuriko. He had been under Seiryu control, along with Tasuki. After Tasuki broke the shidoku spell, Nakago had sent Nuriko to the Hokkan palace on a suicide mission, but that blunt idiot couldn't even succeed in killing a measly prince, much less Miaka.
Mayo supposed neither of them remembered being under Shidoku. In the book Tamahome never remembered, and he was under a lesser poison. Mayo remembered talking to Tasuki. He didn't seem like the loud mouth Mayo had made him out to be, but that was because Tasuki wasn't "himself." It was too bad he got better before Mayo could have any fun with him. A small smile crossed her lips.
Mayo cut off her thoughts and looked at Suboshi again. He and Amiboshi looked so much alike. What had happened to him to cause him so much injury?
Injury. Nakago had been injured after he left camp, but he didn't tell Mayo anything to help her figure out what had happened. She did pick up a few things. It was only a guess, but she imagined Nakago had fought with either Chichiri or Nuriko, and somehow got that terrible burn on his chest. Mayo couldn't figure out which one as long as the Suzaku seven had Mitsukake. That warrior could come in handy on their side.
Mayo sighed loudly, ruffling her hair with her hands. Why did she have to sit here and drown in thoughts like this?! It was irritating! Mayo grabbed the curtains at the right window and ripped them apart, opening the glass to let the passing air in. She inhaled deeply. "I don't know how much longer I can sit still..." she grumbled.
*********************************
Keisuke looked out the window in Tetsuya's kitchen. The book was open, but he held it loosely in one hand, not paying attention to it for the moment.
"Take your time Tetsuya." Keisuke said to himself. He had some idea of what Tetsuya must have been going through, though he did a great job of hiding it. True, Keisuke's sister and brother-in-law were in the book, but he was more used to it, and Miaka wasn't going through the same things as Yui. She had friends around her, and Tamahome. Yui was hurting both emotionally and physically, alone. Right before this whole mess started with the book Keisuke recalled Tetsuya telling him his plans about proposing to Yui and having her move in with them. They had been together for so long Keisuke figured it was about time. He himself had never been in a serious relationship like that, but he could imagine. Ever since Tetsuya and Yui had gotten together Keisuke had gotten to know his sister's friend so well that she was now one of his own.
"Take care Miaka, Saori... Yui, hold on, they'll come for you."
Chapter 51 : Within the Eyes of the Dragon
Yui slowly brought more of the rice up to her mouth, staring off into space as she ate it. The force field around her had expanded enough so at least now she had enough room to pace. There was nearly nothing to do, and the dizzy spells and sudden attacks of pain grew more frequent. It seemed the powers of Seiryu really had been stored within her, and she was losing them more and more with every passing day. The only people she'd seen in the tent were Nakago and Mayo. She hadn't even heard Amiboshi... she wished desperately to see even him, unless he felt the same. Perhaps he wasn't even around. She never really met Amiboshi, but maybe seeing his face could give her some relief, like seeing Suboshi always had.
Another subject came up in her mind. She could have sworn she heard a vastly familiar voice, right around the time the explosion had happened by her tent. Who could it have been?
Yui sighed, dropping the chopsticks and hugging her knees to her chest. What she wouldn't do just to see Miaka. Her friend, Keisuke, her mother... but at that moment, more than anything, she wanted to see Tetsuya again. She wanted to be in his arms, look into his green eyes...
Yui felt a tear roll down her cheek. She placed her head on her knees, and permitted herself to cry.
********************************
Tetsuya looked at the small picture accompanying the page after reading the last written line, the picture of the petite girl curled up near a cot, her arms hiding her face and her hair falling over them. He stroked his thumb over it, sighing. He had been waiting for an update on Yui, and it hadn't been too great.
"You okay man?" Keisuke asked, seeing Tetsuya's stillness.
Tetsuya waved at him. "Yeah, I'm good."
"What's happening? You said they were in Kutou and you didn't care to tell me what else was going on."
"They weren't in Kutou actually, just at the border." Tetsuya rubbed his eyes under his glasses. "After that it switched to them camping, and just now it finished with Yui."
Keisuke looked up from his cereal at the name. "How's she doing?"
"Not so good." Tetsuya answered, standing up and brushing his pants off. "Here." He said, walking over and handing Keisuke the book. "I gotta get an aspirin, my head hurts."
Keisuke stuck the spoon in his mouth and opened the book to where Tetsuya's finger was marking. Shifting the metal utensil around in his mouth, he began to mumble the words. Unlike Tetsuya, he read better out loud.
"Hey!" He mumbled, the spoon clinking against his teeth. "Theyphh in Kubou!"
******************************
"Two guards."
"Wow Tasuki, you can count!"
"Shut up Saori."
"Sorry..."
"Will both of you be quiet? They could hear us!"
Tasuki and Saori both turned around and eyed Nuriko, who grabbed them and pulled them back behind the trees. They were still a good distance from the Kutou gates, but close enough to see what was going on. It was still fairly early in the morning. They had woken up around 5:00 a.m. to get a head start, and it took three more hours before they even came in sight of the gates.
"Chichiri, you can't just take us there?" Miaka asked quietly.
Chichiri shook his head. "It would have to be a few at a time, and remember, we can't raise our chi levels, no da."
"Oh, yeah." Miaka felt a bit silly for forgetting that.
"I've done this before," Tamahome began, "But they won't let you just walk in. They're strict."
"They do allow merchants in," Chiriko spoke up, "Though it would be hard to pass all of us off... and we have no cart or materials..."
"Just 'taking care' of them wouldn't work either." Nuriko thought, peeking back around at the two armed guards. "We'd be caught for sure, and we have to stay out of sight."
"I'm out of ideas too no da." Chichiri kept his voice down. "There's also the chance we could be recognized, no da."
The group was silent for a moment, contemplating a way to get past the gates. They had to find the next clue. They weren't even IN Kutou and they were running into problems.
After a few minutes, Nuriko looked back at the two guards and then at the group with a sassy smirk on his face. "I may have an idea, and I'll bet hands down it would work too."
Everyone looked up. "And what is that?" Inami asked.
Nuriko looked towards Chichiri, who had the more accustomed role as the leader of the group. "Well, take a look at the guards, first off. Only two of them, right?"
"You're point?" Tasuki questioned.
Nuriko readjusted himself on the tree he was leaning against. "I'm just saying with two guys of their obvious stature a little feminine persuasion could come in handy."
"Huh?" Miaka asked.
Tamahome quirked an eyebrow. "Are you saying..."
"Are you kidding?" Inami asked.
Saori was confused too. "Feminine what?"
Chichiri thought. "Actually, that could work no da."
"You want one of us to dress up like a prostitute?!" Tamahome exclaimed.
"Well, it would half to be a girl, but thanks for the offer Tama- kins." Nuriko smiled.
Eyes went to Miaka.
"What?!" Miaka screeched, forgetting to be quiet. Her face went deep crimson. "I... I can't!" She peered out at the guards who were some ways away. A disgusted look came over her face. "I. can't..."
"No way." Tamahome agreed. "I'm not letting HER go out there to. do THAT."
"It's a good point." Chiriko pointed out. "Miaka is the one of us who would most likely be recognized. It'd be too risky."
The eyes moved.
Saori through her hands over herself as if she were naked. "You're kidding me! I... I don't even know... how!" She said, flushing herself.
"No one would recognize ya." Tasuki offered. "Of course," He scanned her quickly. "You don't really look like one."
"Thanks." Saori said sarcastically. "I look too young though! And I... I'd die, I swear!"
A few gazes shifted.
"What makes you think I'm going to do it?" Inami snapped.
Nuriko sighed. "Inami, in case you haven't noticed, you're the last woman among us."
Inami glanced over at Saori. "I think she'll do just fine."
Saori stuck her tongue out.
"Too bad." Nuriko said, standing up. "You're going."
"What?!" Inami asked, unfolding her arms. "I'm not prancing out there dressed up like some street whore!"
"Inami, we NEED the shinzaho!" Miaka said, urgent to get someone else to do the task.
"NO!"
"The reason you're here is to help us!"
"Aw, come on Akue." Tasuki tried to with hold from laughing. "We all know you're the best built for it."
"Excuse me?!" Inami asked. Chiriko subconsciously back away.
"Keep it down no da!" Chichiri hushed.
Inami looked from face to face, rolling her eyes. "Fine!" She said defiantly. "But if this doesn't work, I'm using MY powers to get ME out of here while you guys are all skewered painfully by spears!" Inami stomped forward and peer around the trees at the guards, making a face at their appearance. "This is so humiliating..." She said, starting to loosen the collar of her robe.
"You're actually doin' it?" Tasuki asked.
"No Tasuki, I'd just thought it was getting hot out here and..." Inami didn't even bother to finish her sentence. "I've never felt so low."
"Good Girl." Nuriko patted her on the back.
"You guys..." She said as if it were a curse. She finally untied the top of her robe. She turned away from the others, casually walking away.
Everyone else turned back to the center of the circle. "Let's hope this works, no da." Chichiri stated.
"Let's hope it does." Tamahome whispered.
"But what if it doesn't?" Miaka asked, unsure.
"Then we run for it." Nuriko replied, "Or be skewered, whichever one works."
Saori smiled. Despite the risk they were about to take, she was relieved it wasn't her going out there alone.
"Okay, let's go." Nuriko motioned.
~
Tamahome held Miaka's hand tightly as he stayed close to the opposite wall of the large brick arch, moving swiftly but quietly. He couldn't quite make out what Inami was saying, but he didn't pay much attention to her. He finally reached to end of the gates, pulling Miaka with him sharply as they turned a corner into some brush. Miaka kept herself quiet as they rustled quickly through, some of the twigs scratching across her skin. She put her free hand over her mouth to ensure her silence and closed her eyes, trusting Tamahome to guide her. Finally she felt the brush pull away and she sprinted down a hill, opening her eyes and spotting Chiriko, Nuriko, and Tasuki standing quietly among a grove of trees.
Tamahome and Miaka pulled up next to them, positioning behind another tree. "Good thing these are here." He whispered.
"Remember, don't use your powers." Chiriko poked. "Imagine you're not even a warrior. It's very dangerous."
Tasuki tried to look past the long line of brush that lined the large gate. "How long can she keep it up?"
Miaka looked around. The grove of trees was right in front of the extended length of the large walls. She imagined they extended all the way around the country, kind of like the Great Wall of China.
A slight rustling was heard coming towards them. Miaka's shoulders tensed up, but relaxed when she saw Saori and Mitsukake emerge, running quietly down the small hill to where they were.
"Chichiri is right behind us." Mitsukake alerted as he too camouflaged in the grove.
Nuriko nodded. "He's got that disk, let's hope that we don't all need it... we're going to have to split up again. Kutou's a big country and we don't have a lot of leads."
Saori saw Chichiri coming carefully down the hill, his hand clasped over the top of his staff as to keep the rings from hitting each other. Apparently he overheard.
"I have the feeling our clue is here in Western Kutou, no da. If we move quickly and surely, we should find it before the day is out, no da."
"We need to meet somewhere at dusk." Tamahome piped in.
"How about here?" Miaka asked.
Chichiri shook his head. "It's dangerous for us to be here as it is, no da." His voice was low and quiet. "Too many soldiers, no da."
"Tasuki." Nuriko began. Apparently Tasuki knew what he was going to say, because he waved his hand and quietly slipped through the trees away from the group.
"Where's he going?" Miaka whispered.
"Don't worry, he'll be back." Nuriko patted her head.
~
The group waited in silence for a while, not even Miaka's stomach grumbled. Sure enough, several long minutes later, Tasuki emerged back through the trees, holding onto Inami's hand to guide her through quickly. Inami's other hand was across the top of her robe to hold it shut-- apparently she didn't have time to do it back up.
"Inami!" Saori whispered loudly. "Are you okay?"
"Oh sure." Inami whispered back, getting both hands free. She began quickly tying up her front. "I was just humiliated beyond belief and I'm supposed to meet one of those guys at some inn in half and hour."
"You're not going are you?"
"NO!"
"All right, we're all here." Nuriko took charge. "We need to make the groups small so we'll blend in, and we need to cover ground."
Tama, who had been hiding beneath Mitsukake's top layer, made a small meow.
Nuriko looked around the group. "Having two or more girls together won't work too well here, so Miaka, go with Tamahome and Chiriko." He looked further around. "Tasuki, take Inami, I'll go with Mitsukake, and Chichiri, look after Saori."
Chichiri nodded. "That will work, no da." Chichiri hesitated for a moment, listening to the noises in the background. "Saori and I will take a north route. Tamahome, take Chiriko and Miaka on a south route, along this wall this way, no da." Chichiri pointed. Tamahome would be heading the same way he had been to get to the grove. "Inami, Tasuki, take south east, and Mitsukake, you and Nuriko take north east. We'll cover more ground that way."
The group nodded and agreed. Before separating the group silently forged their way to the front of the grove, which lead out onto a street where a few people and merchants passed by and chatted. After indicating a pawnshop much further up to meet at dusk, the group took off their separate directions, blending in with the town's people of Kutou.
*********************************
Mayo tapped her fingernails harshly on the bench she sat on. She had the curtains to the windows of the carriage shut except for the right one, which was opened just a peek in case she needed to talk to Nakago or something. She would have been alone, but with Suboshi's injuries, he sat in the opposite corner across from her. His head was leaned on his fist and his eyes were closed, but Mayo doubted he was asleep. When they had left the tents had been packed up, and there was no sign of Yui. Mayo knew their work with Yui still wasn't completed, so Nakago couldn't have gotten rid of her.
Mayo looked at Suboshi quietly. He didn't look too bad, but she knew underneath he was bandaged, and the gold band on his left forearm was bound tightly with a thin splint. She had read the book, she knew how he felt towards Yui. She also knew he had no idea Yui was with them, which is probably one reason why not even she could find the blonde. For a dwindling moment Mayo wanted to tell him, but the thought soon faded.
Mayo turned to the embroidered parcel sitting next to her. She quietly picked it up and looked at some of the contents. She pulled out a long, beaded necklace, letting it rest on her fingers for a moment. She remembered, they had gotten this in Hokkan. She hated that forsaken country. How anyone in their right mind could live there was beyond her. As she stared into the beads, she remembered the run in with that girl they had had after attacking the village for this very item. Nakago had let her off easy, though with the apparent trouble Tomo went through to get her, she didn't see why Nakago hadn't killed the "ambassador" then.
She released the necklace and again reached into the wide bag. She pulled out a comb. It was blue with a hint of silver. She shifted the object in her hand, letting the light from the small opening on the window reflect off it at different angles. They had gotten this in Konan, right on the border. Obviously the Suzaku seven were too stupid to know of their presence.
Mayo put the comb back into the parcel and again laid it beside her, letting her mind drift. That magician, Chichiri, had taken Saori away from her. She remembered only about a year ago that all the Suzaku seven had been around her when she had gone into the book as the second priestess of Suzaku. That hadn't worked out like it had this time. She wasn't happy at all. Mayo was sure the only reason they helped her in the end was for Hikari. She frowned.
Nuriko. He had been under Seiryu control, along with Tasuki. After Tasuki broke the shidoku spell, Nakago had sent Nuriko to the Hokkan palace on a suicide mission, but that blunt idiot couldn't even succeed in killing a measly prince, much less Miaka.
Mayo supposed neither of them remembered being under Shidoku. In the book Tamahome never remembered, and he was under a lesser poison. Mayo remembered talking to Tasuki. He didn't seem like the loud mouth Mayo had made him out to be, but that was because Tasuki wasn't "himself." It was too bad he got better before Mayo could have any fun with him. A small smile crossed her lips.
Mayo cut off her thoughts and looked at Suboshi again. He and Amiboshi looked so much alike. What had happened to him to cause him so much injury?
Injury. Nakago had been injured after he left camp, but he didn't tell Mayo anything to help her figure out what had happened. She did pick up a few things. It was only a guess, but she imagined Nakago had fought with either Chichiri or Nuriko, and somehow got that terrible burn on his chest. Mayo couldn't figure out which one as long as the Suzaku seven had Mitsukake. That warrior could come in handy on their side.
Mayo sighed loudly, ruffling her hair with her hands. Why did she have to sit here and drown in thoughts like this?! It was irritating! Mayo grabbed the curtains at the right window and ripped them apart, opening the glass to let the passing air in. She inhaled deeply. "I don't know how much longer I can sit still..." she grumbled.
*********************************
Keisuke looked out the window in Tetsuya's kitchen. The book was open, but he held it loosely in one hand, not paying attention to it for the moment.
"Take your time Tetsuya." Keisuke said to himself. He had some idea of what Tetsuya must have been going through, though he did a great job of hiding it. True, Keisuke's sister and brother-in-law were in the book, but he was more used to it, and Miaka wasn't going through the same things as Yui. She had friends around her, and Tamahome. Yui was hurting both emotionally and physically, alone. Right before this whole mess started with the book Keisuke recalled Tetsuya telling him his plans about proposing to Yui and having her move in with them. They had been together for so long Keisuke figured it was about time. He himself had never been in a serious relationship like that, but he could imagine. Ever since Tetsuya and Yui had gotten together Keisuke had gotten to know his sister's friend so well that she was now one of his own.
"Take care Miaka, Saori... Yui, hold on, they'll come for you."